MEOTRA has a new website at MEOTRA.ORG

 

MEOTRA.org.uk has been posting articles since 2013.

Two hundred and ninety six articles later,

It has been supplanted by MEOTRA.ORG

The archived articles within the meotra.org.uk pages allow a peek into the lives and goings on around these 13 streets over a 10-year period. This site also contains some 140 newsletters dating back to MEOTRA's formation in 1974. That's 50 years of local history at your fingertips.

To look at old blog articles, search using the search bar (top left), or graze the word cloud below this post.

The digital versions of the newsletters are not searchable PDFs, but the contents of all 140 have been manually indexed (a labour of love if ever there was one). This index is on the newsletter archive page.

And don't forget to head over to the new website meotra.org 

Tower Hamlets Unliveable Streets - Refuse and Street Cleaning Strike Extended to 15th October

 

The strike by Tower Hamlets refuse workers and street cleaners has been extended by an extra TWO WEEKS until 15th October (see here and the Roman Road London website for more info). Tower Hamlets Council have yet to confirm this, although Newham Council have.

The Tower Hamlets Council website has some tips on what residents can do to reduce the impact of the strikes (such as taking your waste to the borough's tip).

Unless it is unavoidable and urgent, can I suggest not ordering a new mattress or putting off your Amazon orders for a bit.

Below are photos of Whitechapel market on day 3 of the 28 day strike

Tower Hamlets Waste Service Staff on strike - 18th Sept - 1st Oct (inclusive)

 

From Monday, for the next two weeks, up to 200 waste collection staff from Tower Hamlets Council will be on strike. It is mainly the waste service workers (bin men and women) and the street cleaners.

A statement on the council's website says:

"We are prohibited from bringing in additional resources during this time, but we will be reallocating staff who are not participating in the strike to cover missed collections, including Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers. We are doing everything we can to maintain services for residents throughout the strike". 

During the strike bulky waste collections will be suspended in order that staff can focus on collections. Residents and businesses can take their waste to the Reuse and Recycling Centre in Yabsley Street. 

You can help by:

Separating your waste and recycling in the correct bins

Reducing your waste during the strike

Continuing to recycle responsibly

Crushing plastic bottles, cans and cardboard.

Biodiversity in Tredegar Square - share you thoughts

A while back we sent a survey to get your thoughts on how to improve Tredegar Square Gardens. As well as the usual frustrations about broken benches and litter, there was an overwhelming desire to improve biodiversity in the gardens. 

Thanks to the cooperation of the council and the great insight of the TH biodiversity officer, we're really excited that Trees for Cities have chosen to get involved with the project. From better planting, more bulbs and a mini orchard, there'll be some beautiful changes that will provide joy to all locals - humans and wildlife alike. 

You can see the proposals here and share your thoughts. In particular what type of fruit trees you'd most like to see in the mini-orchard. 

Tredegar Square Gardens through the last 40 or so years

The Square has had some redesigns over the years (see this from 1984 and this from 1995). It used to be all tarmaced in the middle as the photo below shows.

Can anyone work out when this was? Perhaps your old car?

So don't forget to have a quick look at the draft plans for this October's biodiversity improvements and let Trees for Cities know your thoughts. Of course you can let the committee know too via meotra@googlegroups.com.

Four found guilty of killing Shea Gordon in Bow

Shea Gordon was repeatedly stabbed on our streets just after midnight on the 4th of September last year. He died of his injuries despite the best efforts of passers by and the emergency services. Today four teenagers have been found guilty of killing the 17-year-old following a trial at the Old Bailey (see BBC News, Daily Mail, East End Advertiser).

Jurors were shown CCTV footage of four men entering the party, held at the Lichfield Road Epainos Church, wearing balaclavas and hoods. The four left the party but later returned and headed towards the crowd gathering outside just after midnight. Shea was stabbed by his attackers and then chased along Lichfield Road and then into Alloway Road. He then turned  right into Morgan Street where he collapsed. 

Abdul Yaro, 19, and Kavian Vaughans, 18, were found guilty of murder whilst Dainnan Witter-Cameron, 18, and Giovanni Addae-Johnson, 18, were convicted of manslaughter. All four were tried as adults.

Vaughans, Addae-Johnson and Yaro, who are from Tottenham, and Witter-Cameron, of Enfield, will all be sentenced in September.

Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Forum - Saturday 15th July 12 noon

THIS SATURDAY at 12 midday is the Annual General Meeting of the Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Forum at the Bow Idea store (Lab 3). Please come along and show your support, hear what the forum is about and help elect the forum committee.

The last twelve months has been a mixed bag for the forum.

After almost seven years, the Neighbourhood Plan was adopted via a public referendum of Bow residents on the 13th October 2022.The Neighbourhood Plan now sits alongside the London Plan and Tower Hamlet's Local Plan and has to be considered in all planning applications in the forum area.

But recently the Mayor of Tower Hamlets and his cabinet have disappointedly voted to not recognise the forum as they see "quite concerning diversity and equality issues". The forum awaits an official written response from the Mayor and his cabinet formally setting out their reasons.

A recording of the cabinet meeting where the decision was taken can be viewed here. If you fast forward to around 42 minutes in, you can watch the discussion. Oddly the beginning of the recording seems to start mid-sentence unofficially discussing the forum?

The forum is open to ALL demographics, so come along tomorrow and listen to what the forum is about and consider getting further involved. It is about making Bow a better place to live and work.

Join the Forum here or visit their website to find out more,

Date: 15th July
Time: 12 NOON
Location: Bow Idea Store (Lab 3), Gladstone Place, E3 5ES

Striking Sparks: The Story of the Matchgirls (TONIGHT at 7PM)

The premiere of A Fair Field by Jonathan Pease, is an evening of music telling the story of the Bow Matchgirls’ Strike of 1888. It is TONIGHT and tickets are available on the door.

This project brings together musicians from four community groups, Queen Mary University, and local schools, to perform a brand new piece telling the story of the Matchgirls Strike of 1888.

A historic event which took place in the Bryant & May factory in Bow, East London, the strike saw the group of young women and girls successfully challenge workplace exploitation and win better pay conditions. Their story was inspirational for subsequent generations of workers around the world.

The performance will take place on Saturday 1 July in The People’s Palace, Queen Mary University of London. Book tickets.

Bow Church: Clothes and Book Swap (17th June, 10.30-13.30)

Tower Hamlets Council are holding a Clothes and Book Swap at Bow Church on Saturday 17th June between 10.30 am and 13.30 pm. It includes a patching and mending workshop.

So have you had or are having a spring clearout? If so, why not pop along to this event with those books and/or clothes and give them a new live?

What to bring:   

• Clothes - women’s, men’s and children’s 
• Shoes and accessories – women’s, men’s and children’s 
• Books  

Do not bring: 

• Electrical items
• Underwear
• Items that are faulty or dirty
• Household items 

How the clothes swap works

Bring up to 15 items of clothing or a mixture of clothing and books in good, clean condition between 10.30 – 11.30 am and exchange for tokens.

Between 12 noon-1:30 pm browse and choose items of clothing and exchange your tokens for up to 15 new-to-you pieces!

All items will be checked before tokens are issued. You can donate any unused tokens. These will be given to those who do not have tokens and want to join in.   

Any items left at the end will donated to charity (usually traid) or brought to the next swap.

Patching and mending workshop

A drop-in workshop will be running during the day from 10:30 am to 13:30pm. Drop-in at any time between 10:30 am to 12:45 pm and join a small group.

 

Discounted Santander bike hire

The Zero Emission Network (ZEN) has a special offer for half price annual or monthly Santander Cycle membership for residents of Islington, Tower Hamlets and Hackney. If you use a Santander bike then getting it for half price is a no brainer.

All you have to do is click on the image above and it will (with some luck) open a pre-populated email like the one illustrated below. Edit it as required and Bob's your uncle.

If the above doesn't work then just type an email like the one below. 

The ZEN website has a range of other offers that you might find find of use. Whilst many focus on businesses in Hackney, Islington and Tower Hamlets some, such as the Santander hire, are for residents too. For example, you can try out a cargo bike for a week and see if it is compatible with your routine. With their Zencard you can also get 20% off beer at the five points brewery! In all there are about 60 companies that offer  deals with the Zencard.

The Crofton Singers & Jonathan Rathbone at The HAC Bow (6th July 2023) - FREE Event

FREE Tickets are available to enjoy the Crofton Singers in concert at Morgan Street's Heritage and Arts Centre at 18:30 on Thursday 6th July.

Music for this forthcoming concert includes pieces by William Byrd, Thomas Tallis and JS Bach arranged by the Choir’s professional musical director, Jonathan Rathbone, who sang at Coventry Cathedral and Christ’s College Cambridge before studying singing and composition at the Royal Academy of Music.

Although tickets are free, space is limited, so if you wish to come register via Eventbrite. The concert will last around 90 minutes.

More about the Crofton Singers

The Crofton Singers is a chamber choir of sixteen singers who have been meeting every week in Woodford since 1947. They are a friendly four-part chamber choir that meets on Thursday evenings at Bancroft’s School, Woodford to sing a wide range of unaccompanied music.

The choir sing a wide variety of music by composers from the 16th to 21st centuries plus arrangements of traditional British folk songs and popular song. 

New members (over 16) are always welcome in all voice parts. For further information contact them by sending an email to croftonsingers@gmail.com  or by visiting www.croftonsingers.org.uk

The Queen Mary Festival of Communities: Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of June 2023, 11.30am-4.30pm

 

It is just a couple of weeks until the Queen Mary Festival of Communities. The video above gives a taster from a few years ago. It is enjoyable and engaging for kids and adults alike. It is a joint event with both the students and staff, but also lots of local community and public sector organisations. It takes place over two days at a different local venue on each day.

Saturday 10 June | Stepney Green Park

From soft play and give-it-a-go sports, to Queen Mary researchers and community organisations running thought-provoking and hands-on activities, there is something for everyone to get involved in. See if you can beat a robot at Tic Tac Toe, experience tropical butterflies, play battery jenga, try some creative crafts, share your favourite slang words, or learn about the matchgirls strike of 1888. There is tonnes to do and see (further info here about Saturday).

All activities are free to attend and food from local providers will be available to buy.

Sunday 11 June | Queen Mary Mile End Campus

On Sunday the activities move to the Queen Mary Mile End Campus. You can take a tour of the rooftop dome-covered telescope, learn all about teeth from the dental students and staff; play French Bingo, try chinese calligraphy; sing cossack songs or give greek dancing a go. Again lots and lots of other stuff to see or try (see here for further info about Sunday).

This is just the babyscope

Events at the HAC

Let's get ready to rumble?

The events held at the Hac last weekend undoubtedly caused problems for numerous local residents. Many locals have emailed to say how their weekend was mired by the goings on.

There seem to be three key issues:

The building is NOT soundproof - Even with the large wooden doors shut, any amplified music just goes straight through the huge single-glazed church windows. It often travels as far as Grove Road. This is unreasonable and is blights the lives of residents.

Events are NOT managed properly - There doesn't seem to be anyone from the church actually onsite to ensure any disturbance is kept to reasonable levels. The first the church hear about issues is an email, text, or by doorstepping at Sunday Service by residents. The church don't experience it firsthand themselves.

Events finish too late - Music blaring out of a night from a club night is not something a quiet residential area should have to put up with. Last weekend there was a most unroyal street party in Morgan Street which really got going at 12.20am as punters left the club night.. Women urinating in the gutter, men in local mews, cars blocking access, the NOX and other illicit substances. We even had the "Shoreditch car bar" phenomenon where people open their boot to get prepped on cheap booze (and god knows what) before a night out or to continue partying in the street afterwards. Litter galore the next day.

License - what license? A quick Google indicates hosting a boxing match is classified as "regulated entertainment", yet Sunday's event seems to have been unlicensed? As we mentioned previously we have events coming up that have been given licenses until 1AM.

The MEOTRA committee are meeting on Monday and will discuss issues surrounding the use of the Hac, but please if you were affected by the events you need to speak up and write to the council...

Were you affected by last weekend's events at the Hac?

Tower Hamlets Council are reviewing the licensing and noise issues due to recent events at the Hac. If you were "inconvenienced" (to put it politely) then it is important to let the following know giving as much detail as you can (Date/Times/What you witnessed/Photos/Videos etc):

1. Email our two Bow West councillors Asma Begum and Nathalie Bienfait 
2. The council licensing department (Licensing@towerhamlets.gov.uk)
3. The council's [noise] Environmental Health Team.

(first-hand accounts and photo/video evidence are really important)

Note: You will need to give your name and address for complaints to be looked into by the council.

More information is available on the council's licensing and noise control web pages.

How was your weekend? Enjoy the Night of Execution on Sunday?

 

It really was a Bank Holiday weekend of contrasts.

Some of us enjoyed the first Coronation in our lifetime and followed it up the next day with an excuse to meet and socialise with neighbours with a picnic in Tredegar Square. Some great memories to treasure.

Meanwhile the Hac in Morgan Street had back-to-back events.

On Saturday there was a "secret" club night that went on until after midnight. It wasn't a secret for long though, with heavy bass music blasting out from the Hac hitting the residents of Morgan St and Rhondda Grove in particular. Around 9.30pm one female resident was accosted whilst walking home from Mile End station.

After midnight, despite at least two visits from the council's out of hours Noise Response Team, it was still in full flow. Literally full flow, with "ladies" squatting and urinating on Morgan Street in the gutter. At one point the whole north-western junction of Tredegar Square had cars parked across it, with the grid lock extending along to Rhondda Grove. The next morning the street was littered with lots of large NOX cannisters, plastic cups, empty whisky bottles, tissues galore and such.

On Sunday there was the "Night of Execution" with the old listed church being transformed into a boxing venue.  The sound levels were lower, but each boxer was encouraged to send in their "entrance music" to the promoter. It finished earlier (by 10?), lots of bouncers and staff to clean the streets; but we still had the unavoidable issues from punters spilling out on to our residential streets afterwards, and a venue with masses of large windows that let the sound pour through them out on to our streets and into our homes.

We've spotted some future bookings that have been granted even later licenses. One on the 23rd September has a 1AM license.

The Hac's tagline "Bringing communities together" might have to be changed to "Splitting communities apart".

For many, many years we have held our Annual General Meetings at the Epainos Church, and last Christmas they rescued our Carols in the Square with a last minute transfer to their atmospheric (and dry) the Hac. But this is a quiet residential area, as their website says, and we don't want a nightclub experience here.

If you have any thoughts or ideas please get in touch. 

Join us for a Coronation Weekend Picnic in Tredegar Square this Sunday 12-4

MEOTRA are holding a relaxed picnic tomorrow afternoon in Tredegar Square to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The forecast is looking pretty good with a possible high of 21C.

We will be putting up bunting from 10.30am if you'd like to pop along and lend a hand. They'll be some simple garden games (giant jenga, boules, hoopla, splat-the-rat, etc); hot water for tea and some music.

Please bring some food to share if you can.

Location: Tredegar Square Gardens
Time: 12 noon to 4. (Setting up from 10.30)

Next Sunday, 7th May, MEOTRA is putting on a picnic party in Tredegar Square to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

We will have traditional Garden Games such as  Splat-The-Rat, Egg and Spoon races, boules, hoopla, Giant Jenga, Sack Races and music galore.

This is a low-key chilled event. Just come along with some food and drink and picnic in the Square with your neighbours. We'll have tea and coffee; but bring a dish or two to share. 

Can you help set up from 10.30? We've tonnes of bunting, tables and chairs to set out. Email meotra@googlegroups.com if you can.

Location: Tredegar Square
Date: Sunday 7th May
Time: Noon until 3 or 4.

Bake a cake! Bring a dish!

 

MEOTRA AGM - Agenda for Thursday's Annual General Meeting

 

Don't forget it is MEOTRA's Annual General Meeting this Thursday at the Epainos Church in Lichfield Road. We begin gathering at 7PM for nibbles and light refreshments with the meeting itself starting at 7.30PM.

The agenda for the meeting can be found here.

Do pop along if you can. It is a good chance to meet and catch-up with neighbours. The business side of things should be relatively short (30-40 minutes), and will be followed by a brief Open Forum "Vision for our Streets" led by Cheryl.

The Epainos Church Entrance

Why not join the MEOTRA committee? Nominations close this Thursday.

To be nominated to become part of the MEOTRA committee you need to get your nomination in by this Thursday 20th April at midnight. You will need a proposer and seconder. Nominations should be sent via email to meotra@googlegroups.com

REMINDER: Bow West Police Ward Panel Meeting Tonight: 6.30PM

 

Just a reminder that TONIGHT is the Bow West Police Ward Panel Meeting. This is your chance to pop along and let the local police, council and councillors know, face to face, any concerns you have about local crime and anti-social behaviour.

We, the public, also get to help choose the local neighbourhood policing priorities for the next three months. Please do try and make an effort to come if you can. However, if you can't make it and have something you wish discussed, then let us know and we will raise any concerns on your behalf.

The meeting starts at 6.30PM and typically lasts for less than an hour.

Location: Epainos Church Hall, Lichfield Road
Date: Thursday 13th April 2023
Time: 6.30PM

Another day in the 'hood

Did you receive the Spring 2023 MEOTRA newsletter through your letterbox?

 

Have you received your Spring copy of the MEOTRA newsletter through your letterbox? If not let us know and we can drop one off (we have quite a few spare for some reason this time?). It has info about this Saturday's Easter Egg Hunt in the Square, next week's Bow West Police Ward Panel meeting and information about the forthcoming MEOTRA AGM, amongst other things.

You can view an an electronic copy of the newsletter here.

Easter Egg Hunt - this Saturday 11am

The weather forecast is looking alright for Saturday. Please do come or someone will have to eat all 80-odd chocolate treats and surround themselves with dozens of the cutest furry toys and literally dozens of weird christmas cracker-like toys. Oh the trauma.

The hunt begins at 11am in Tredegar Square, with volunteers welcome from 10am to help set up (well, that means hiding the luminous eggs). It was over by just gone 12 last year.

Please do drop us an email if you aim to come so we have an idea of numbers of children. Many Thanks.

Bow West Ward Panel Meeting - Thursday 13th April, 6.30PM

 

Next Thursday is our local Police Ward Panel Meeting for the Bow West area. It usually lasts for under an hour and is your opportunity to report any local crime/ASB concerns to the local neighbourhood police and Tower Hamlets Council. 

At the last meeting the following were set as the local policing priorities:

Violence Related Priority - Concerns have been raised by the community about drug dealing, drug taking and youths with weapons within the corridors of WHITTON WALK . In response to this officers will perform a number of targeted patrols over the next 3 months.

Tredegar Square E3 - ASB Residents of Tredegar Square have reported Anti Social behaviour and noise nuisance due to large groups congregating in the park late at night. Officers plan to increase patrols in and around the vicinity of the park.

Clinton Road ASB - Concerns have been raised by residents about drug taking and nitrous oxide consumption along with in considerate parking Anti social behaviour and noise toward the end of Clinton Road . Officers will work with Tower Hamlets council to reduce the issues raised.

The police will give an update on the above three policing priorities and the public present choose priorities for the next  period. Do you have any concerns relating to our area? Please pop along and pass them on directly to the police; or if you can't make the meeting then email us and we will pass them on for you.

Location: The meeting is in the church hall in Lichfield Road at 6.30PM